Auburn, Ala. -
Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill was selected in the second round of the 2006 National Football League Draft by the San Diego Chargers Saturday. The 50th overall pick, McNeill was a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy finalist as a senior in 2005.

McNeill is the first Auburn offensive lineman to be drafted since Kendall Simmons was a first round pick by Pittsburgh in 2002 and the first Tiger to be drafted by San Diego since defensive lineman Leonardo Carson was a fourth round pick of the Chargers in 2000. He is the ninth Tiger since the 2002 NFL Draft to be taken in the first or second round and the seventh in the last two years.

A four-year starter at Auburn, the 6-9, 338-pound McNeill played in 45 career games, making 39 starts while helping the Tigers to a 39-12 mark during his career. The two-time first-team All-SEC pick, McNeill did not allow a sack in his final 43 games of his Auburn career.

The Decatur, Ga., native was named a first-team All-American in 2005 by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of American, Walter Camp and The Sporting News. One of three finalists for the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, McNeill was the recipient of the Jacobs Trophy as the SEC's top blocker.

McNeill helped guide the Tigers to an SEC-best 32.2 points and 409.8 yards per game in 2005, including 194.1 yards per game rushing. This season, the Auburn offense amassed seven 200-plus yard rushing games and nine individual 100-plus yard games on the ground.